St. Michael's Parish and School Festival in Pinconning to offer 'small town feel'

View full sizeCourtesy | Gary PatelskiA group of parishioners at St. Michael's in Pinconning prepare a meal for the annual dinner.

PINCONNING, MI — The 2012 St. Michael's Parish and School Festival is scheduled to begin July 20, and festival organizers hope it can provide wholesome weekend fun while raising funds for church and school activities.

The annual three-day festival, held at the church at 225 S. Jennings in Pinconning, traces all the way back to the late 1940s, when
parishioners hosted a dinner fundraiser to raise money for an additions to the building's school, festival organizer Kathy Kryzsiak said.

Since then, Kryzsiak said the event has grown,
but continues to have the qualities of a community festival.

"It's a small town feel — I think that's missing in a lot
of places," Kryzsiak said. "People think back on how things used to be, and we're still
doing it."

The festival is the main fundraiser of the year for St. Michael's Parish and School, and goes towards church activities, maintenance and charity causes.

To help the cause, former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mickey Lolich will be in Pinconning Friday night, signing autographs and grand marshaling a parade that will start at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Kryzsiak said this is not the first time the festival has invited former Tigers to the festival, with past visitors including Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, Dave Bergman and Mickey Stanley.

Central to the festivities is a homemade "smorgasbord" dinner prepared by parishioners and served on Sunday afternoon. The dinner, which Kryzsiak said is immensely popular among attendees, costs $10 for adults, $5 for children six to 12 and free for children five and under.

"It's all homemade food — everything is prepared either at home or
in the church kitchen," Kryzsiak said. "It's wonderful to see all the families come out. It's a feel-good time, really."

Other festival highlights include concerts by The Steel Wheels, games and activities for children and teenagers, hay rides, food and a talent show Sunday.

For more information, contact Krzysiak at (989) 879-4139 or see the festival schedule below.

Friday, July 20th

Blooperball and kickball tournament, 6 p.m.

Game tent, 6 p.m.

Fish Fry, 6 p.m.

St. Michael's Parade, 6:30 p.m. Parade starts at St. Michael's Parish. Mickey Lolich is the parade's grand marshal and sign autographs for $10 after the parade.

Steel Wheels concert, 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Saturday, July 21

Blooperball and kickball tournament continues, 6 p.m.

Game tent, 6 p.m.

Baking contest, hay rides, food tent

Steel Wheels concert, 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Sunday, July 22

Polka mass, 10 a.m.

"Smorgasbord" dinner, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. $10 for adults, $5 for children